Dimensions: measuring Georgia's workforce [Vol. 28, no. 3 (Mar. 2002)]

March 2002 Data
Highlights
Job increases .......................... page 2
Job market shows positive signs. Retail trade and services add workers.
Georgia's unemployment rate up one-tenth percentage point in March............................ page 10
Georgia's unemployment rate increased slightly, however it was still better than the nation's rate in March.
In the Southeast, Georgia continued its dominance despite its slight over-the-month increase.
Spotlight: Service Delivery Region Three ....................... Page 12
Demographic change and economic growth are prominent in SDR Three.
New Developments.................. Page 18
Initial claims totals down from February to March... ..............Page 21
Monthly new claims figures down 12.8 percent in metro Atlanta area.
WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team .................. page 23

Volume XXVIII, Number 3
Data Tables
4 Georgia Nonagricultural Employment
5 Georgia Hours and Earnings
6 Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment
7 Albany & Athens Nonagricultural Employment
8 Augusta-Aiken & Columbus Nonagricultural Employment
9 Macon & Savannah Nonagricultural Employment
11 Georgia, Metro Areas & U.S. Labor Force Estimates
14 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County
19 Georgia Unemployment Rates by County
20 Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County
Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner Georgia Department of Labor
Workforce Information & Analysis 148 Andrew Young International Blvd., N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404) 656-3177
Fax (404) 651-9568 Workforce.Info@dol.state.ga.us
Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary Aids and Services Available upon
Request to Individuals with Disabilities

Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforce

Employers continue tentative hiring

For the second straight month, workers were added to Georgia payrolls. Nonagricultural employment grew 12,900 in March, bringing just a bit of hope that the job losses of late are beginning to turn around, albeit weakly. An average March job gain, however, post-1991 recession, would be almost 30,000 workers, so it is not yet time to declare the recession/ slowdown over for the jobs market.
Once again, there were some positive and hopeful signs in March. For the second straight month, personnel services added employment, an impressive 7,300 jobs. The industry had been in steep decline since August 2001, until the latest back-to-back increases. The performance of this key "firsthired, first-fired" industry remains critical to a robust recovery in Georgia.
Another bright spot was retail trade, which added 4,600 jobs during the month. A strong increase of 6,500 in eating and drinking establishments was partially offset by a drop of 2,000 jobs in food stores. Food stores remain a volatile area within trade, as fierce competition continues to weed out weaker companies. Retail giant WalMart is quickly grabbing a bigger piece of the grocery pie in Georgia, forcing long-time companies to cut prices and sharpen profit margins to be able to stay competitive. The closing of so many K-Mart stores in the state has had a negative impact on general merchandise stores, and, with the exception of a few new mall openings, no other large chains seem poised to enter the market. Electronic and computer stores and office supply firms also are
2

in thousands 270

Eating and drinking places employment

265

260

255

250

245

240

235

01

02

230

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug S ep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

in thousands 330

Personnel supply services employment

320

310

300

290

280

270

01

02

260

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

finding themselves competing for those few customers/companies willing to upgrade equipment during the current slowdown. Slower sales have forced some chains to look at debt restructuring for relief. Although most of the major players in the market will undoubtedly survive, some of the underperforming stores may not.

Amusement and recreation services added seasonal workers in March, as the warm-weather season opened at a number of large facilities.
State government began to add a few seasonal workers to prepare parks and campgrounds for the yearly spring and summer onslaught of users.

Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforce

Although construction did not lose employment in March, the sector seems ill-equipped to break the pattern of job declines that began July 2001. Although some construction-re-

lated indicators are on the rise (i.e., residential construction building permits), the built-in lag time between obtaining the permit and breaking ground has not yet been met. Some other ar-

in thousands
4000

Total nonfarm employment in Georgia

3950

3900

eas, such as apartment-building, have definitely fallen off, as existing ones struggle with high vacancy rates and are forced into giveaways (i.e., no deposit, or one or two months free) to fill even those units. If the Northern Arc in Atlanta is ratified, there would be a flurry of activity and hiring in heavybuilding construction.
Manufacturing lost workers in March, due to a limited strike in aircraft manufacturing. Negotiations continued between the union and company into the month of April.

3850

01

02

3800 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Ninetthjooubsagnrdoswth 5303.00

4352.00

40.0
310

33.6

35.0

3300.0

Personnel Msuaprpclhyjsoebrvgircoewstehmployment
42.2
33.3 28.9 27.0

25.0
290

20.0

1258.00

12.9

1207.00

5.0

01

02

206.00 Jan F9e7b Mar Apr98 May Jun 99Jul Aug S0e0p Oct Nov01 Dec Jan 02Feb Mar

Georgia did add a few jobs in 2001, due to job growth in the first and second quarters of that year. As the year went by, however, the recession/slowdown began to sink its teeth into the state's economy, and job losses multiplied. With job production predicted to be weak in 2002, at least two renowned economic forecasters have predicted that the state will end the year with job losses for the first time since the 1991 recession. For Georgia to buck those predictions and add jobs in 2002, robust second-quarter employment gains must occur in such key areas as business services, construction, retail trade, trucking and warehousing and durable goods manufacturing. One thing is certain for the unemployed: only a job will convince them this slowdown/recession is over.

For more information, please contact
David Echols at (404) 656-3177 or (800) 338-2082 Fax (404) 651-9568
Email: David.Echols@dol.state.ga.us

Produced by the Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis,
in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
3

Georgia Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised MAR 2002 FEB 2002 MAR 2001

Change in Jobs from FEB 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from MAR 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Mining Construction Manufacturing
Durable goods Lumber and wood products Furniture and fixtures Stone, clay, and glass products Primary metal industries Fabricated metal products Industrial machinery Electronic equipment Transportation equipment Other durable goods Nondurable goods Food and kindred products Textile mill products Apparel and other finished textiles Paper and allied products Printing and publishing Chemicals and allied products Other nondurable goods Service producing Transportation and public utilities Transportation Communications Electric, gas, and sanitary services Trade Wholesale trade Retail trade
General merchandise Food stores Eating and drinking places Finance, insurance, real estate Finance Insurance Real estate Services Hotels and other lodging Business services Personnel supply Computer and D.P. services Amusement, recreation Health services Hospitals Educational services Social services Engineering and management Other services Total government Total federal governement Department of defence Total state governement State education Total local governement Local education

3,862.1 731.7 7.3 189.2 535.2 236.5 37.2 11.8 20.9 13.9 22.7 38.7 33.0 41.5 16.8 298.7 69.5 90.7 16.6 30.3 41.0 22.7 27.9
3,130.4 248.4 145.9 77.6 24.9 934.6 240.0 694.6 91.1 96.5 251.3 206.5 94.9 71.4 40.2
1,127.3 42.4
295.3 111.8 73.6 37.2 262.6 111.0 60.9 63.8 96.1 269.0 613.6 97.2 27.7 149.3 64.4 367.1 224.4

3,849.2 734.6 7.2 189.2 538.2 239.6 37.4 11.7 20.8 14.2 23.1 38.2 33.4 44.3 16.5 298.6 68.7 90.8 16.9 30.1 41.3 23.1 27.7
3,114.6 249.0 145.7 78.4 24.9 933.0 243.0 690.0 91.7 98.6 244.8 206.6 94.9 71.5 40.2
1,114.9 42.2
287.6 104.5
73.6 35.0 262.9 110.2 60.5 63.5 96.2 267.0 611.1 97.0 27.6 148.8 64.3 365.3 223.2

3,973.6 769.1 7.7 198.4 563.0 245.3 38.2 11.7 21.5 13.6 25.3 39.2 33.3 45.3 17.2 317.7 71.6 96.3 22.2 30.8 43.4 22.1 31.3
3,204.5 267.5 161.5 83.5 22.5 964.3 250.4 713.9 96.1 103.8 255.1 206.0 95.4 71.1 39.5
1,157.3 46.8
324.3 131.6
79.9 32.9 251.6 105.9 62.4 59.3 97.9 282.1 609.4 96.1 27.7 150.7 63.5 362.6 224.0

+12.9 -2.9 +.1 +.0 -3.0 -3.1 -.2 +.1 +.1 -.3 -.4 +.5 -.4 -2.8 +.3 +.1 +.8 -.1 -.3 +.2 -.3 -.4 +.2
+15.8 -.6 +.2 -.8 +.0
+1.6 -3.0 +4.6
-.6 -2.1 +6.5
-.1 +.0 -.1 +.0 +12.4 +.2 +7.7 +7.3 +.0 +2.2 -.3 +.8 +.4 +.3 -.1 +2.0 +2.5 +.2 +.1 +.5 +.1 +1.8 +1.2

+0.3 -0.4 +1.4 +0.0 -0.6 -1.3 -0.5 +0.9 +0.5 -2.1 -1.7 +1.3 -1.2 -6.3 +1.8 +0.0 +1.2 -0.1 -1.8 +0.7 -0.7 -1.7 +0.7 +0.5 -0.2 +0.1 -1.0 +0.0 +0.2 -1.2 +0.7 -0.7 -2.1 +2.7 +0.0 +0.0 -0.1 +0.0 +1.1 +0.5 +2.7 +7.0 +0.0 +6.3 -0.1 +0.7 +0.7 +0.5 -0.1 +0.7 +0.4 +0.2 +0.4 +0.3 +0.2 +0.5 +0.5

-111.5 -2.8 -37.4 -4.9
-.4 -5.2 -9.2 -4.6 -27.8 -4.9 -8.8 -3.6 -1.0 -2.6 +.1 +0.9
-.6 -2.8 +.3 +2.2 -2.6 -10.3 -.5 -1.3 -.3 -0.9 -3.8 -8.4 -.4 -2.3 -19.0 -6.0 -2.1 -2.9 -5.6 -5.8 -5.6 -25.2 -.5 -1.6 -2.4 -5.5 +.6 +2.7 -3.4 -10.9 -74.1 -2.3 -19.1 -7.1 -15.6 -9.7 -5.9 -7.1 +2.4 +10.7 -29.7 -3.1 -10.4 -4.2 -19.3 -2.7 -5.0 -5.2 -7.3 -7.0 -3.8 -1.5 +.5 +0.2 -.5 -0.5 +.3 +0.4 +.7 +1.8 -30.0 -2.6 -4.4 -9.4 -29.0 -8.9 -19.8 -15.0 -6.3 -7.9 +4.3 +13.1 +11.0 +4.4 +5.1 +4.8 -1.5 -2.4 +4.5 +7.6 -1.8 -1.8 -13.1 -4.6 +4.2 +0.7 +1.1 +1.1 +.0 +0.0 -1.4 -0.9 +.9 +1.4 +4.5 +1.2 +.4 +0.2

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers
throughout Georgia. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2001 benchmark.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

4

Recovery Watch - Key Industries

Construction employment
in thousands
215

Durable goods manufacturing employment
in thousands
250

210 245
205
240 200

195

190

185

01

02

180

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

235

230

01

02

225 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Business services employment
in thousands
330

in thousands
740

Retail trade employment

320

730

310

720

300

710

290

700

280

01

02

270 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

690

01

02

680 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Transportation employment
in thousands
165

Wholesale trade employment
in thousands
255

160 250

155 245
150

145

01

02

140 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

240

01

02

235 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

5

Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised MAR 2002 FEB 2002 MAR 2001

Change in Jobs from FEB 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from MAR 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Mining Construction Manufacturing
Durable goods Electronic equipment Transportation equipment Other durable goods Nondurable goods Food and kindred products Printing and publishing Other nondurable goods Service producing industries Transportation and public utilities Transportation Communications and public utilities Trade Wholesale trade Retail trade
General merchandise Food stores Eating and drinking Miscellaneous retail Finance, insurance, and real estate Finance Insurance Real estate Services Hotels and other lodging places Business services Personnel supply Computer and D.P. services Amusement, including movies Health services Hospitals Social services Engineering and management Other services Total government Total federal governement Total state governement Total local governement

2,127.7 319.9 1.9 111.1 206.9 101.9 15.6 16.6 69.7 105.0 24.6 26.3 54.1
1,807.8 176.7 102.7 74.0 539.1 158.3 380.8 44.9 50.5 139.5 43.5 141.6 61.1 50.6 29.9 671.7 23.8 206.6 76.7 58.3 31.8 133.1 58.9 35.0 70.7 170.7 278.7 48.4 56.9 173.4

2,120.5 326.3 1.9 112.9 211.5 105.9 15.9 19.2 70.8 105.6 24.6 26.4 54.6
1,794.2 176.3 102.3 74.0 537.9 160.3 377.6 45.0 52.0 135.7 44.0 141.4 60.8 50.7 29.9 660.6 23.7 201.2 71.7 58.2 30.1 132.6 58.5 34.7 70.8 167.5 278.0 48.4 56.9 172.7

2,198.2 336.0 2.0 118.9 215.1 107.2 17.2 19.3 70.7 107.9 25.5 28.2 54.2
1,862.2 192.2 116.7 75.5 567.7 169.7 398.0 49.8 55.7 144.0 48.8 141.5 63.4 50.8 27.3 685.9 27.4 227.3 85.3 66.4 28.2 127.3 55.4 32.5 71.0 172.2 274.9 47.8 55.7 171.4

+7.2 -6.4 +.0 -1.8 -4.6 -4.0
-.3 -2.6 -1.1
-.6 +.0 -.1 -.5 +13.6 +.4 +.4 +.0 +1.2 -2.0 +3.2 -.1 -1.5 +3.8 -.5 +.2 +.3 -.1 +.0 +11.1 +.1 +5.4 +5.0 +.1 +1.7 +.5 +.4 +.3 -.1 +3.2 +.7 +.0 +.0 +.7

+0.3 -2.0 +0.0 -1.6 -2.2 -3.8 -1.9 -13.5 -1.6 -0.6 +0.0 -0.4 -0.9 +0.8 +0.2 +0.4 +0.0 +0.2 -1.2 +0.8 -0.2 -2.9 +2.8 -1.1 +0.1 +0.5 -0.2 +0.0 +1.7 +0.4 +2.7 +7.0 +0.2 +5.6 +0.4 +0.7 +0.9 -0.1 +1.9 +0.3 +0.0 +0.0 +0.4

-70.5 -3.2 -16.1 -4.8
-.1 -5.0 -7.8 -6.6 -8.2 -3.8 -5.3 -4.9 -1.6 -9.3 -2.7 -14.0 -1.0 -1.4 -2.9 -2.7
-.9 -3.5 -1.9 -6.7
-.1 -0.2 -54.4 -2.9 -15.5 -8.1 -14.0 -12.0
-1.5 -2.0 -28.6 -5.0 -11.4 -6.7 -17.2 -4.3
-4.9 -9.8 -5.2 -9.3 -4.5 -3.1 -5.3 -10.9 +.1 +0.1 -2.3 -3.6
-.2 -0.4 +2.6 +9.5 -14.2 -2.1 -3.6 -13.1 -20.7 -9.1 -8.6 -10.1 -8.1 -12.2 +3.6 +12.8 +5.8 +4.6 +3.5 +6.3 +2.5 +7.7
-.3 -0.4 -1.5 -0.9 +3.8 +1.4 +.6 +1.3 +1.2 +2.2 +2.0 +1.2

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers
in the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2001 benchmark.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

6

Albany Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised MAR 2002 FEB 2002 MAR 2001

Change in Jobs from FEB 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs

from MAR 2001

NET

%

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries
Construction and Mining Manufacturing Durable goods Nondurable goods Service producing industries Transportation, communications,
and public utilities Trade Wholesale trade

55.0

54.5

56.6

10.2

10.1

11.5

2.8

2.8

3.4

7.4

7.3

8.1

1.1

1.0

1.3

6.3

6.3

6.8

44.8

44.4

45.1

3.4

3.4

3.4

12.7

12.5

13.1

2.6

2.7

2.7

+.5 +0.9 +.1 +1.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.4 +.1 +10.0 +.0 +0.0 +.4 +0.9
+.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.6 -.1 -3.7

-1.6 -2.8 -1.3 -11.3
-.6 -17.6 -.7 -8.6 -.2 -15.4 -.5 -7.4 -.3 -0.7
+.0 +0.0 -.4 -3.1 -.1 -3.7

Retail trade

10.1

9.8

10.4

+.3 +3.1

-.3 -2.9

Finance, insurance, and real estate

1.7

1.7

1.7

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

Services

15.1

14.9

15.0

+.2 +1.3

+.1 +0.7

Government Federal State and local

11.9

11.9

11.9

2.5

2.5

2.7

9.4

9.4

9.2

+.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0 -.2 -7.4 +.2 +2.2

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected
employers in the Albany Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Dougherty and Lee counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2001 benchmark.

Athens Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised MAR 2002 FEB 2002 MAR 2001

Change in Jobs

from FEB 2002

Net

%

Change in Jobs

from MAR 2001

Net

%

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Construction and mining Manufacturing
Durable goods Nondurable goods Service producing industries

73.0 12.8
3.2 9.6 5.0 4.6 60.2

73.0 12.6
3.1 9.5 5.0 4.5 60.4

72.1 13.9
3.0 10.9
5.0 5.9 58.2

+.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.6 +.1 +3.2 +.1 +1.1 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +2.2 -.2 -0.3

+.9 -1.1 +.2 -1.3 +.0 -1.3 +2.0

+1.2 -7.9 +6.7 -11.9 +0.0 -22.0 +3.4

Transportation, communications, and public utilities
Trade Wholesale trade Retail trade Finance, insurance, and real estate Services Government Federal State and local

1.9 16.7
2.8 13.9
2.4 18.0 21.2
1.9 19.3

1.9 17.0
2.8 14.2
2.4 18.1 21.0
1.9 19.1

1.9 16.8
2.6 14.2
2.3 17.1 20.1
1.7 18.4

+.0 +0.0 -.3 -1.8 +.0 +0.0 -.3 -2.1 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.6 +.2 +1.0 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.0

+.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.6 +.2 +7.7 -.3 -2.1 +.1 +4.3 +.9 +5.3 +1.1 +5.5 +.2 +11.8 +.9 +4.9

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected
employers in the Athens Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Clarke, Madison and Oconee counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2001 benchmark.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

7

Augusta-Aiken Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised MAR 2002 FEB 2002 MAR 2001

Change in Jobs from FEB 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from MAR 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment

198.8

198.5

202.0

+.3 +0.2

-3.2 -1.6

Goods producing industries

39.7

40.2

42.0

-.5 -1.2

-2.3 -5.5

Construction and Mining

12.5

13.0

12.7

-.5 -3.8

-.2 -1.6

Manufacturing

27.2

27.2

29.3

+.0 +0.0

-2.1 -7.2

Durable goods

11.8

11.8

12.6

+.0 +0.0

-.8 -6.3

Nondurable goods

15.4

15.4

16.7

+.0 +0.0

-1.3 -7.8

Textile mill products

3.8

3.8

4.6

+.0 +0.0

-.8 -17.4

Other nondurable goods

11.6

11.6

12.1

+.0 +0.0

-.5 -4.1

Service producing industries

159.1

158.3

160.0

+.8 +0.5

-.9 -0.6

Transportation, communications,

and public utilities

17.2

17.2

17.3

+.0 +0.0

-.1 -0.6

Trade

42.6

42.5

42.0

+.1 +0.2

+.6 +1.4

Wholesale trade

4.5

4.5

4.6

+.0 +0.0

-.1 -2.2

Retail trade

38.1

38.0

37.4

+.1 +0.3

+.7 +1.9

Finance, insurance, and real estate

6.3

6.3

6.0

+.0 +0.0

+.3 +5.0

Services

52.9

52.4

53.6

+.5 +1.0

-.7 -1.3

Government

40.1

39.9

41.1

+.2 +0.5

-1.0 -2.4

Federal

6.9

6.7

7.3

+.2 +3.0

-.4 -5.5

State and local

33.2

33.2

33.8

+.0 +0.0

-.6 -1.8

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers
in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2001 benchmark.

Columbus Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised MAR 2002 FEB 2002 MAR 2001

Change in Jobs from FEB 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from MAR 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment

118.4

117.8

117.0

+.6 +0.5

+1.4 +1.2

Goods producing industries

25.2

25.1

24.9

+.1 +0.4

+.3 +1.2

Construction and mining

5.6

5.6

5.4

+.0 +0.0

+.2 +3.7

Manufacturing

19.6

19.5

19.5

+.1 +0.5

+.1 +0.5

Durable goods

8.0

7.7

8.5

+.3 +3.9

-.5 -5.9

Nondurable goods

11.6

11.8

11.0

-.2 -1.7

+.6 +5.5

Textile mill products

5.0

5.1

5.0

-.1 -2.0

+.0 +0.0

Other nondurable goods

6.6

6.7

6.0

-.1 -1.5

+.6 +10.0

Service producing industries

93.2

92.7

92.1

+.5 +0.5

+1.1 +1.2

Transportation, communications,

and public utilities

3.8

3.8

4.1

+.0 +0.0

-.3 -7.3

Trade

24.1

23.8

24.4

+.3 +1.3

-.3 -1.2

Wholesale trade

2.6

2.6

2.8

+.0 +0.0

-.2 -7.1

Retail trade

21.5

21.2

21.6

+.3 +1.4

-.1 -0.5

Finance, insurance, and real estate

8.8

8.8

8.4

+.0 +0.0

+.4 +4.8

Services

35.0

34.8

33.9

+.2 +0.6

+1.1 +3.2

Government

21.5

21.5

21.3

+.0 +0.0

+.2 +0.9

Federal

5.3

5.4

5.6

-.1 -1.9

-.3 -5.4

State and local

16.2

16.1

15.7

+.1 +0.6

+.5 +3.2

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected
employers in the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Chattahoochee, Harris and Muscogee counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2001 benchmark.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

8

Macon Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised MAR 2002 FEB 2002 MAR 2001

Change in Jobs from FEB 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from MAR 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Mining Construction Manufacturing
Durable goods Nondurable goods Food and kindred products Other nondurable goods Service producing industries Transportation, communications,
and public utilities Trade Wholesale trade Retail trade Finance, insurance, and real estate Services Government Federal State and local

147.3 26.4 .5 6.2 19.7 9.3 10.4 3.0 7.4
120.9
5.4 31.9
4.7 27.2
8.4 41.2 34.0 14.6 19.4

146.1 26.4 .5 6.2 19.7 9.2 10.5 3.0 7.5
119.7
5.4 31.3
4.4 26.9
8.4 40.7 33.9 14.6 19.3

146.8 24.9 .8 5.4 18.7 9.0 9.7 2.7 7.0
121.9
5.8 33.0
4.6 28.4
8.7 40.4 34.0 14.1 19.9

+1.2 +.0 +.0 +.0 +.0 +.1 -.1 +.0 -.1
+1.2

+0.8 +0.0 +0.0 +0.0 +0.0 +1.1 -1.0 +0.0 -1.3 +1.0

+.0 +0.0 +.6 +1.9 +.3 +6.8 +.3 +1.1 +.0 +0.0 +.5 +1.2 +.1 +0.3 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.5

+.5 +1.5
-.3 +.8 +1.0 +.3 +.7 +.3 +.4 -1.0

+0.3 +6.0 -37.5 +14.8 +5.3 +3.3 +7.2 +11.1 +5.7 -0.8

-.4 -6.9 -1.1 -3.3 +.1 +2.2 -1.2 -4.2
-.3 -3.4 +.8 +2.0 +.0 +0.0 +.5 +3.5 -.5 -2.5

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected
employers in the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Bibb, Houston, Jones, Peach and Twiggs counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2001 benchmark.

Savannah Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised MAR 2002 FEB 2002 MAR 2001

Change in Jobs from FEB 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs

from MAR 2001

Net

%

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Construction and mining Manufacturing
Durable goods Transportation equipment Other durable goods Nondurable goods Paper and allied products Other nondurable goods Service producing industries Transportation, communications,
and public utilities Trade Wholesale trade Retail trade Finance, insurance, and real estate Services Government Federal
State and local

137.1 24.8 8.8 16.0 9.0 5.5 3.5 7.0 2.8 4.2
112.3
9.0 33.9
5.2 28.7
4.6 44.0 20.8
2.6 18.2

135.3 23.5 7.4 16.1 9.0 5.5 3.5 7.1 2.9 4.2
111.8
9.1 34.0
5.5 28.5
4.7 43.5 20.5
2.7 17.8

135.8 24.5 7.9 16.6 9.4 6.0 3.4 7.2 3.3 3.9
111.3
9.1 34.5
5.6 28.9
4.4 42.7 20.6
2.7 17.9

+1.8 +1.3 +1.3 +5.5 +1.4 +18.9
-.1 -0.6 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -1.4 -.1 -3.4 +.0 +0.0 +.5 +0.4
-.1 -1.1 -.1 -0.3 -.3 -5.5 +.2 +0.7 -.1 -2.1 +.5 +1.1 +.3 +1.5 -.1 -3.7 +.4 +2.2

+1.3 +.3 +.9 -.6 -.4 -.5 +.1 -.2 -.5 +.3
+1.0

+1.0 +1.2 +11.4 -3.6 -4.3 -8.3 +2.9 -2.8 -15.2 +7.7 +0.9

-.1 -.6 -.4 -.2 +.2 +1.3 +.2 -.1 +.3

-1.1 -1.7 -7.1 -0.7 +4.5 +3.0 +1.0 -3.7 +1.7

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected
employers in the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2001 benchmark.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

9

Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Labor Force

Georgia's unemployment rate up

Unemployment rates, Georgia and U.S.

one-tenth percentage point in March

6.0%

Ge orgi a

U.S .

Georgia's unemployment rate was up

slightly in March 2002, rising only one-

tenth percentage point. Registering 4.6 5.0% percent for the month, this was the state's

highest rate in more than 3 years. One

year ago, the state's rate was 3.7 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate, not season-

4.0%

ally adjusted, was unchanged in March

2002 at 6.1 percent, compared with 4.6 percent in March 2001. However, despite the 3.0%

state's slight upward movement, Georgia's

jobless rate was still better than the

nation's rate in March. At 1 percentage 2.0%

points below the national rate, the state's

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Se p O ct Nov De c Jan Fe b Mar

rate has remained below the U.S. rate for

2002

nearly 18 months. In fact, Georgia's rate has exceeded the U.S. rate only seven times in the last 11 years.

At nearly 191,000, Georgia's total unemployment count was at a 3-year-high in March. Despite a modest over-the-month

centage point, to 5.4 percent, Athens climbed two-tenths percentage point, to 3.1 percent and both Columbus and Macon

Georgia's civilian labor force and employment levels were both at 15-month highs in March. With nearly 4.2 million people in the labor force, the state's total count of civilian employed approached 4.0 million in March. Georgia's total civilian employment level rose over the month by nearly 17,000, or 0.4 percent. Helping to fuel the state's civilian employment increase was a 0.3 percent rise in nonagri-

decline in the number of persons receiving unemployment insurance (UI) benefits during the March reference week, the state's total count of unemployed persons increased by just under 1,400. This increase was bolstered by an over-themonth surge in the number of new entrants, which more than doubled from February to March. There also were more reentrants into the labor force this month.

rose one-tenth percentage point, to 4.5 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively. Only the Augusta MSA, at 4.5 percent, declined in March. The remaining two areas, Atlanta, at 4.7 percent, and Savannah, at 3.4 percent, remained unchanged. Athens and Albany continued their long-standing status in March, posting the lowest and highest rates, respectively, of all metro areas.

cultural employment, one of the major components of civilian employment. Also included in the total civilian employment count are agricultural, self-employed, unpaid family and private household workers, all of which recorded over-the-month increases in March.

Area data
Unemployment rates in four of Georgia's seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) followed the statewide trend and posted higher over-the-month rates in March. Albany increased four-tenths per-

Of Georgia's 159 counties, 71 counties posted increases in their unemployment rates, and 71 counties declined in March. The remaining counties essentially were unchanged over the month. Taliaferro County, at 13.9 percent, had the highest county rate and was one of seven coun-

ties in double-digits. Oconee County reg-

Southeastern states and U.S. unemployment rates

istered the lowest jobless rate of 2.0 per-

Percent 9

cent in March.

8

March

Fe bru ary

7

6.9 6.6 6.6 6.8

6 5.5 5.7

5.3

6.1 5.6

5.9 5.5

5.7

5.7

6.1 6.1

5

4.9

4.6 4.5

4

3

2

1

0

AL

FL

GA

KY

MS

NC

SC

TN

US

Georgia's reign in the Southeast seems unending. Despite an over-the-month increase to its highest level in more than 3 years, Georgia's unemployment rate of 4.6 percent was the lowest in the Southeast for the 16th consecutive month. In March, North Carolina, at 6.6 percent, relinquished to Mississippi (6.9%) the highest-rate title it has held for the five previous months. Mississippi, with the highest rate in the region, saw an over-the-month increase of three-tenths percentage point; Mississippi and North Carolina were the only two states in the Southeast with jobless rates above the national average of 6.1 percent in March.

10 .

Georgia

Georgia Civilian Labor Force Estimates (not seasonally-adjusted) by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Employment Status

Preliminary MAR 2002

Revised FEB 2002

Revised MAR 2001

Change From

Revised

Revised

FEB 2002

MAR 2001

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

4,183,949 3,993,254
190,695 4.6

4,165,951 3,976,635
189,316 4.5

4,130,528 3,977,938
152,590 3.7

17,998 16,619
1,379

53,421 15,316 38,105

Albany MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

53,824 50,930
2,894 5.4

52,941 50,287
2,654 5.0

54,257 50,786
3,471 6.4

883

-433

643

144

240

-577

Athens MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

75,458 73,154
2,304 3.1

75,144 72,953
2,191 2.9

72,856 70,464
2,392 3.3

314

2,602

201

2,690

113

-88

Atlanta MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

2,314,671 2,206,262
108,409 4.7

2,306,768 2,199,150
107,618 4.7

2,278,523 2,210,248
68,275 3.0

7,903 7,112
791

36,148 -3,986 40,134

Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

209,557 200,154
9,403 4.5

209,533 199,343
10,190 4.9

206,619 198,085
8,534 4.1

24 811 -787

2,938 2,069
869

Columbus, GA-AL MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

127,200 121,427
5,773 4.5

126,444 120,926
5,518 4.4

122,079 117,129
4,950 4.1

756

5,121

501

4,298

255

823

Macon MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

146,887 141,421
5,466 3.7

145,352 140,143
5,209 3.6

142,785 137,379
5,406 3.8

1,535 1,278
257

4,102 4,042
60

Savannah MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

140,256 135,445
4,811 3.4

138,156 133,523
4,633 3.4

134,273 130,205
4,068 3.0

2,100 1,922
178

5,983 5,240
743

United States Civilian Labor Force Estimates by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Area

Employment Status

MAR 2002

FEB 2002

MAR 2001

Change From

FEB 2002

MAR 2001

United States
(Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

142,005,000 133,894,000
8,111,000 5.7

142,211,000 134,319,000
7,891,000 5.5

141,869,000 135,808,000
6,061,000 4.3

-206,000 -425,000 220,000

136,000 -1,914,000 2,050,000

United States
(Not Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

142,092,000 133,433,000
8,659,000 6.1

142,057,000 133,349,000
8,707,000 6.1

141,751,000 135,298,000
6,453,000 4.6

35,000 84,000 -48,000

341,000 -1,865,000 2,206,000

Note: Employment includes nonagricultural wage and salary employment, self-employment, unpaid family and private household workers and agricultural workers.

Persons in labor disputes are counted as employed. The use of unrounded data does not imply that the numbers are exact. Georgia and Metropolitan Statistical Area data have not been seasonally-adjusted; seasonally-adjusted data for Georgia available upon request. Albany MSA: Includes Dougherty and Lee counties Athens MSA: Includes Clarke, Madison, and Oconee counties Atlanta MSA: Includes Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens,
Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton counties Augusta-Aiken MSA: Includes Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina Columbus MSA: Includes Chattahoochee, Harris and Muscogee counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama Macon MSA: Includes Bibb, Houston, Jones, Peach, and Twiggs counties Savannah MSA: Includes Byran, Chatham, and Effingham counties

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

11

Spotlight: Service Delivery Region Three

Encircling the City of Atlanta and spreading mainly north and east from there, the ten counties that comprise Service Delivery Region Three have been at the epicenter of growth and demographic change in Georgia during the past decade. Far and away the most populous of the state's twelve SDR's, this region continues to be at the forefront in demographic change and economic growth. Home to innumerable corporate offices and a myriad of retail establishments, it is one area of the state that has successfully distanced itself from a dependence on manufacturing jobs. The suburban sprawl of the Atlanta metropolis has begun to reach even the farthest corners of the area, with commercial buildings and residential developments seeming to spring from the very soil at every turn. While population growth has been most significant in the counties closest to Atlanta proper, all have benefited from the economic boom. The very face of the citizenry has also undergone a transition, with ethnic minorities becoming an increasing factor in area demographics.
The total population of SDR Three increased by more than 36 percent between the 1990 and 2000 Census counts, bettering the statewide growth rate by a full ten percentage points. With roughly 3,430,000 residents as of the 2000 Census, the area

is now home to four out of every ten Georgians. Gwinnett and Fulton Counties posted the biggest net gains, but Henry grew at the fastest pace between 1990 and 2000. Historically, the area has pretty much been a microcosm of the state in terms of ethnicity, but the decade of the 90's saw that change dramatically. The percentage of the population classified as white declined from roughly 70 percent in 1990 to less than 59 percent in 2000. The number of African-Americans posted a net gain of about 420,000, going from 27 percent of the total up to about 32 percent. Persons of Asian or mixed-race descent saw their numbers more than triple over the same time frame. The Hispanic population grew even more rapidly, registering more than a 350 percent increase. The changes in ethnic makeup were pretty much universal across the ten counties of SDR Three, with each recording a significant shift in racial/ethnic balances. Gwinnett County recorded perhaps the largest shift as the number of African-Americans more than tripled, Asian and mixed races increased five-fold and Hispanics logged an increase of 657 percent between the two Census counts. Not only did local officials face increased traffic and school enrollment, they also faced the additional problem of assimilating persons from varied language and cultural backgrounds

into the community. Crowded schools and neighborhoods were the downside of growth as population density increased by more than 300 additional residents per square mile.
Service Delivery Region Three also experienced some dramatic changes in the economic status of its citizens between 1990 and 2000. Median household income grew by roughly $9,250 over that time frame, while per capita personal income increased by $12,420. The disparity between the two figures points to a sharp increase in residents with six figure or higher incomes. The addition of a few new millionaires affects the per capita number to a larger degree than it does the other measure. Somewhat surprisingly, the sources of income changed remarkably little over the decade. Wage and Salary incomes accounted for the lion's share at a constant 58 percent for both years. Dividends dropped its share of total income by a couple of percentage points, but was offset by a similar gain in proprietary income. Other sources of income varied only slightly between the cited years. On the down side, the number of persons living below poverty level posted a substantial net increase of 56.1 percent between the two Census periods.

Coca Cola Pavillion, Fulton, Georgia
12

Spotlight: Service Delivery Region Three

SDR #3
Cherokee

Cobb

Gwinnett

Douglas

DeKalb Fulton
Clayton

Rockdale

Fayette

Henry

Career Centers
Clayton ................. (404) 363-7643 Cobb/Cherokee.... (770) 528-6100 DeKalb ................. (404) 298-3970 Gwinnett .............. (770) 995-6913 North Metro ........ (404) 679-5200 South Metro ......... (404) 699-6900

Demographic changes -- 1990 to 2000

SDR 3
Total Population White Pct of Total African-American Pct of Total Other Races Pct of Total Hispanic Pct of Total
Persons per Square Mile Total Personal Income (000s) Median Household Income Per Capita Income Persons in Poverty
Pct of Total

1990

2000* Net change % change

2,514,066 1,758,050
69.9 681,258
27.1 74,758
3.0 54,470
2.2 841.7 $55,875,810 $38,057 $22,101 241,173
9.6

3,429,419 2,017,854
58.8 1,100,500
32.1 311,065
9.1 249,218
7.3 1,148.1 $110,198,098 $47,302 $34,521 376,369
11.0

915,353 259,804
-11.1 419,242
5.0 236,307
6.1 194,748
5.1 306.4 $54,322,288 $9,245 $12,420 135,196
1.4

36.4% 14.8%
61.5%
316.1%
357.5%
36.4% 97.2% 24.3% 56.2% 56.1%


State of Georgia

Total Population White Pct of Total African-American Pct of Total Other Races Pct of Total Hispanic Pct of Total
Persons per Square Mile Total Personal Income (000s) Median Household Income Per Capita Income Persons in Poverty
Pct of Total

6,478,149 4,600,148
71.0 1,746,565
27.0 131,436
2.0 108,922
1.7 111.9 $115,414,190 $29,021 $17,738 923,085 14.2

8,186,453 5,327,281
65.1 2,349,542
28.7 509,630
6.2 435,227
5.3 141.4 $212,806,472 $39,525 $27,324 1,203,409
14.7

1,708,304 727,133 -5.9 602,977 1.7 378,194 4.2 326,305 3.6 29.5
$97,392,282 $10,504 $9,586 280,324 0.5

* Or latest available estimate

26.4% 15.8%
34.5%
287.7%
299.6%
26.4% 84.4% 36.2% 54.0% 30.4%


Personal income by source 1990
Proprietor 6%

Other Labor 7%

Other 8%

Dividends 15%

Transfers 6%

Personal income by source 1999

Proprietor 8%
Other Labor 6%

Other 9%

Dividends 13% Transfers 6%

Wage & Salary 58%

Wage & Salary 58%

13

Georgia Civilian Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally-adjusted)

by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

County
Georgia

Preliminary March 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,183,949 3,993,254 190,695

4.6

Revised February 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,165,951 3,976,635 189,316 4.5

Revised March 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,130,528 3,977,938 152,590

3.7

Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin

8,007 7,348 659 8.2

2,668 2,502 166 6.2

4,228 3,950 278 6.6

1,598 1,523

75 4.7

16,378 15,851 527 3.2

7,999 2,693 4,180 1,590 16,307

7,309 2,481 3,927 1,511 15,806

690 8.6 212 7.9 253 6.1
79 5.0 501 3.1

8,244 2,900 4,182 1,520 16,646

7,651 2,576 3,904 1,432 16,051

593 7.2 324 11.2 278 6.6
88 5.8 595 3.6

Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien
Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan

6,394 6,126 268 4.2 22,479 21,144 1,335 5.9 41,994 39,495 2,499 6.0
8,655 8,244 411 4.7 6,075 5,775 300 4.9
70,186 67,293 2,893 4.1 5,641 5,393 248 4.4 6,339 6,046 293 4.6 7,574 7,283 291 3.8 11,555 11,234 321 2.8

6,345 22,315 41,838
8,559 6,027

6,089 21,076 39,368
8,196 5,734

256 4.0 1,239 5.6 2,470 5.9
363 4.2 293 4.9

69,390 66,685 2,705 3.9

5,573 5,371

202 3.6

6,327 6,027

300 4.7

7,506 7,252

254 3.4

11,372 11,074

298 2.6

6,324 6,085

239 3.8

22,139 21,182

957 4.3

41,504 39,566 1,938 4.7

8,806 8,311

495 5.6

6,247 5,930

317 5.1

68,486 65,370 3,116 4.5

5,719 5,564

155 2.7

6,081 5,766

315 5.2

7,561 7,277

284 3.8

11,054 10,799

255 2.3

Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden

26,013 25,157 856 3.3 8,804 8,192 612 7.0 8,616 8,185 431 5.0 2,308 2,169 139 6.0
17,001 16,467 534 3.1

25,906 8,859 8,589 2,290
16,934

25,055 8,154 8,160 2,148
16,414

851 3.3 705 8.0 429 5.0 142 6.2 520 3.1

26,238 8,776 8,845 2,411
16,731

25,606 8,233 8,379 2,229
16,096

632 2.4 543 6.2 466 5.3 182 7.5 635 3.8

Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham

4,228 4,099 129 3.1 46,267 43,870 2,397 5.2 28,337 27,676 661 2.3
3,836 3,697 139 3.6 109,609 105,664 3,945 3.6

4,212 4,071

141 3.3

45,988 43,729 2,259 4.9

28,233 27,541

692 2.5

3,832 3,685

147 3.8

107,965 104,164 3,801 3.5

3,629 3,482

147 4.1

46,585 43,950 2,635 5.7

27,567 26,738

829 3.0

3,752 3,614

138 3.7

104,854 101,576 3,278 3.1

Chattahoochee 2,453 2,289 164 6.7

Chattooga

10,711 10,370 341 3.2

Cherokee

84,935 81,919 3,016 3.6

Clarke

47,526 46,010 1,516 3.2

Clay

1,421 1,367

54 3.8

2,415 10,662 84,606 47,271
1,423

2,277 10,336 81,655 45,884
1,355

138 5.7 326 3.1 2,951 3.5 1,387 2.9
68 4.8

2,325 2,197

128 5.5

11,054 10,500

554 5.0

83,652 82,067 1,585 1.9

45,925 44,318 1,607 3.5

1,496 1,404

92 6.1

Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt

130,296 123,006 7,290 5.6

2,703 2,613

90 3.3

372,023 356,638 15,385 4.1

19,022 18,242 780 4.1

17,962 17,152 810 4.5

129,596 122,609 6,987 5.4

2,697 2,596

101 3.7

370,418 355,489 14,929 4.0

19,005 18,135

870 4.6

17,924 17,034

890 5.0

127,567 123,228 4,339 3.4

3,112 2,845

267 8.6

366,119 357,283 8,836 2.4

19,602 18,431 1,171 6.0

18,546 17,436 1,110 6.0

Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp

45,753 44,555 1,198 2.6 7,757 7,443 314 4.0
48,006 46,007 1,999 4.2 5,935 5,677 258 4.3 9,047 8,547 500 5.5

45,681 7,715
47,732 5,930 9,032

44,408 7,404
45,859 5,657 8,487

1,273 2.8 311 4.0
1,873 3.9 273 4.6 545 6.0

44,826 43,875

951 2.1

7,654 7,319

335 4.4

47,889 46,090 1,799 3.8

5,910 5,717

193 3.3

9,230 8,732

498 5.4

14

Georgia Civilian Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally-adjusted)

by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

County
Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge
Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols
Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin
Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton
Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady
Greene Gwinnett Habersham Hall Hancock
Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry
Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis

Preliminary March 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,957 7,646 311 3.9 9,723 9,343 380 3.9 10,867 10,163 704 6.5 374,688 354,281 20,407 5.4 9,474 9,142 332 3.5

4,230 4,020 210 5.0

42,381 39,850 2,531 6.0

54,048 51,882 2,166 4.0

4,716 4,441 275 5.8

1,259 1,200

59 4.7

19,092 18,547 545 2.9 8,699 8,194 505 5.8 7,829 7,358 471 6.0 4,994 4,808 186 3.7 8,979 8,664 315 3.5

52,288 50,958 1,330 2.5 45,140 43,117 2,023 4.5 57,199 55,172 2,027 3.5 10,345 9,940 405 3.9 420,854 397,386 23,468 5.6

8,327 7,939 388 4.7

989

928

61 6.2

35,641 34,639 1,002 2.8

20,948 19,821 1,127 5.4

8,891 8,530 361 4.1

6,122 5,327 795 13.0 354,456 339,986 14,470 4.1
15,605 14,998 607 3.9 75,852 73,273 2,579 3.4
3,503 3,147 356 10.2

9,833 9,231 602 6.1 12,361 11,940 421 3.4
9,462 8,887 575 6.1 5,114 4,850 264 5.2 65,313 63,002 2,311 3.5

50,119 48,649 1,470 2.9 4,678 4,404 274 5.9 22,603 21,455 1,148 5.1 4,909 4,706 203 4.1 5,158 4,538 620 12.0

Revised February 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,875 7,609

266 3.4

9,768 9,371

397 4.1

10,771 10,104

667 6.2

373,881 353,139 20,742 5.5

9,419 9,133

286 3.0

Revised March 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,553 7,387

166 2.2

9,060 8,863

197 2.2

11,057 10,322

735 6.6

367,681 354,921 12,760 3.5

9,660 9,235

425 4.4

4,200 41,657 53,739
4,670 1,251

3,991 39,347 51,715
4,404 1,195

209 5.0 2,310 5.5 2,024 3.8
266 5.7 56 4.5

4,403 4,107

296 6.7

42,746 39,737 3,009 7.0

53,391 51,976 1,415 2.7

4,753 4,477

276 5.8

1,260 1,199

61 4.8

18,818 8,688 7,810 4,995 8,964

18,284 8,152 7,330 4,780 8,641

534 2.8 536 6.2 480 6.1 215 4.3 323 3.6

18,366 9,039 8,199 5,120 9,212

17,830 8,260 7,733 4,943 8,827

536 2.9 779 8.6 466 5.7 177 3.5 385 4.2

52,129 50,793 1,336 2.6 52,046 51,050

996 1.9

44,866 42,999 1,867 4.2 44,642 42,574 2,068 4.6

57,085 54,994 2,091 3.7 56,190 55,272

918 1.6

10,418 9,888

530 5.1 10,263 9,722

541 5.3

418,716 396,105 22,611 5.4 412,776 398,104 14,672 3.6

8,292 1,001 35,547 20,894 8,824

7,895 923
34,514 19,744
8,473

397 4.8 78 7.8
1,033 2.9 1,150 5.5
351 4.0

8,182 7,897

285 3.5

999

955

44 4.4

34,929 33,697 1,232 3.5

21,683 20,101 1,582 7.3

9,113 8,621

492 5.4

6,066 5,300

766 12.6

5,685 5,313

372 6.5

354,468 338,890 15,578 4.4 348,879 340,600 8,279 2.4

15,484 14,923

561 3.6 15,723 14,990

733 4.7

75,786 73,254 2,532 3.3 75,266 73,110 2,156 2.9

3,473 3,135

338 9.7

3,791 3,338

453 11.9

9,806 12,305
9,506 5,075 65,075

9,209 11,879 8,844 4,850 62,799

597 6.1 426 3.5 662 7.0 225 4.4 2,276 3.5

9,831 11,825 10,118 5,045 64,425

9,301 11,463 9,107 4,728 63,116

530 5.4 362 3.1 1,011 10.0 317 6.3 1,309 2.0

49,633 4,589
22,523 4,897 5,043

48,209 4,378
21,353 4,693 4,512

1,424 2.9 211 4.6
1,170 5.2 204 4.2 531 10.5

48,561 47,259 1,302 2.7

4,703 4,439

264 5.6

22,944 22,147

797 3.5

5,008 4,791

217 4.3

4,904 4,587

317 6.5

15

Georgia Civilian Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally-adjusted)

by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

County
Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar

Preliminary March 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

6,950 6,350 600 8.6 4,087 3,914 173 4.2 3,182 2,946 236 7.4 11,654 11,263 391 3.4 6,452 5,903 549 8.5

Revised February 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

6,942 4,284 3,168 11,545 6,411

6,320 3,902 2,930 11,161 5,900

622 9.0 382 8.9 238 7.5 384 3.3 511 8.0

Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln

3,474 3,388

86 2.5

22,285 21,364 921 4.1

11,443 11,080 363 3.2

18,857 18,000 857 4.5

2,744 2,481 263 9.6

3,483 22,225 11,284 18,835
2,748

3,374 21,278 10,940 17,952
2,467

109 3.1 947 4.3 344 3.0 883 4.7 281 10.2

Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie McIntosh

4,113 3,971 142 3.5 42,338 40,962 1,376 3.3 10,839 10,512 327 3.0 10,189 9,292 897 8.8
4,486 4,349 137 3.1

4,116 42,132 10,841
9,847 4,487

3,960 40,789 10,512
9,262 4,331

156 3.8 1,343 3.2
329 3.0 585 5.9 156 3.5

Macon

5,334 4,944 390 7.3

Madison

14,051 13,535 516 3.7

Marion

3,111 2,972 139 4.5

Meriwether

8,862 8,226 636 7.2

Miller

3,010 2,898 112 3.7

5,280 14,020
3,090 8,819 3,005

4,906 13,497
2,954 8,223 2,876

374 7.1 523 3.7 136 4.4 596 6.8 129 4.3

Mitchell

11,477 10,951 526 4.6

Monroe

7,848 7,489 359 4.6

Montgomery

3,611 3,330 281 7.8

Morgan

7,462 7,135 327 4.4

Murray

19,734 18,888 846 4.3

11,405 7,944 3,612 7,430 19,739

10,879 7,487 3,314 7,092
18,887

526 4.6 457 5.8 298 8.3 338 4.5 852 4.3

Muscogee

86,833 83,046 3,787 4.4

Newton

31,581 30,028 1,553 4.9

Oconee

13,881 13,609 272 2.0

Oglethorpe

6,258 6,010 248 4.0

Paulding

44,478 42,872 1,606 3.6

86,145 31,406 13,853
6,207 44,311

82,618 29,931 13,572
5,982 42,734

3,527 4.1 1,475 4.7
281 2.0 225 3.6 1,577 3.6

Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk

10,790 10,343 447 4.1 11,519 11,030 489 4.2 7,629 7,348 281 3.7 6,992 6,612 380 5.4 17,971 16,947 1,024 5.7

10,676 11,449 7,583 6,944 18,051

10,250 10,995
7,303 6,610 16,949

426 4.0 454 4.0 280 3.7 334 4.8 1,102 6.1

Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph

4,415 4,196 219 5.0

9,893 9,522 371 3.8

1,275 1,200

75 5.9

7,433 7,226 207 2.8

3,155 2,865 290 9.2

4,416 9,897 1,267 7,406 3,095

4,188 9,510 1,198 7,189 2,842

228 5.2 387 3.9
69 5.4 217 2.9 253 8.2

Revised March 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,050 4,186 3,194 11,322 6,379

6,455 3,930 2,973 10,941 6,077

595 8.4 256 6.1 221 6.9 381 3.4 302 4.7

3,520 22,118 11,511 18,664 3,092

3,385 21,267 11,049 17,731
2,753

135 3.8 851 3.8 462 4.0 933 5.0 339 11.0

4,008 42,482 10,760
9,879 4,522

3,912 40,926 10,537
9,150 4,288

96 2.4 1,556 3.7
223 2.1 729 7.4 234 5.2

5,517 13,580
3,411 8,956 3,022

5,046 13,037
3,253 8,214 2,867

471 8.5 543 4.0 158 4.6 742 8.3 155 5.1

11,855 7,661 3,623 7,307 19,600

11,220 7,328 3,301 7,066 18,836

635 5.4 333 4.3 322 8.9 241 3.3 764 3.9

83,076 31,154 13,351
6,237 43,856

79,729 30,082 13,109
6,005 42,950

3,347 4.0 1,072 3.4
242 1.8 232 3.7 906 2.1

10,439 11,406 7,627 6,609 17,061

10,048 11,050 7,338 6,324 16,091

391 3.7 356 3.1 289 3.8 285 4.3 970 5.7

4,326 9,592 1,290 7,780 3,202

4,151 9,257 1,218 7,218 2,740

175 4.0 335 3.5
72 5.6 562 7.2 462 14.4

16

Georgia Civilian Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally-adjusted)

County
Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole
Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot
Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell
Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen
Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson
Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington
Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield
Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth

by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Preliminary March 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

80,967 76,947 4,020 5.0

40,765 39,205 1,560 3.8

1,849 1,757

92 5.0

5,287 4,950 337 6.4

4,648 4,431 217 4.7

Revised February 2002

Labor Force
80,840 40,666
1,839 5,248 4,616

Employment
76,694 39,079
1,755 4,917 4,396

Unemployment Number Rate
4,146 5.1 1,587 3.9
84 4.6 331 6.3 220 4.8

Revised March 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

79,781 75,773 4,008 5.0

40,297 39,276 1,021 2.5

1,794 1,702

92 5.1

5,790 5,337

453 7.8

4,825 4,593

232 4.8

30,589 28,719 1,870 6.1 11,460 10,923 537 4.7 2,210 2,107 103 4.7 14,678 13,654 1,024 7.0 2,678 2,524 154 5.8

30,346 11,553 2,198 14,572 2,668

28,626 10,884
2,094 13,584
2,519

1,720 5.7 669 5.8 104 4.7 988 6.8 149 5.6

30,316 28,770 1,546 5.1

11,524 10,841

683 5.9

2,305 2,121

184 8.0

14,424 13,509

915 6.3

2,826 2,660

166 5.9

757 6,712 3,726 4,023 3,963

652 6,395 3,523 3,612 3,605

105 13.9 317 4.7 203 5.4 411 10.2 358 9.0

735 6,696 3,703 3,998 3,939

646 6,339 3,501 3,586 3,577

89 12.1 357 5.3 202 5.5 412 10.3 362 9.2

688 6,893 3,797 4,301 3,872

627 6,453 3,657 4,034 3,577

61 8.9 440 6.4 140 3.7 267 6.2 295 7.6

21,595 20,807 788 3.6 19,722 18,966 756 3.8 11,768 10,939 829 7.0
4,034 3,925 109 2.7 2,624 2,457 167 6.4

21,501 19,570 11,742
4,007 2,605

20,702 18,855 10,885
3,903 2,444

799 3.7 715 3.7 857 7.3 104 2.6 161 6.2

21,589 20,069 11,708
3,950 2,616

20,639 19,156 10,843
3,825 2,435

950 4.4 913 4.5 865 7.4 125 3.2 181 6.9

32,195 30,467 1,728 5.4 4,522 4,163 359 7.9 4,138 3,873 265 6.4 8,172 7,908 264 3.2
12,163 10,737 1,426 11.7

31,960 4,516 4,108 8,103
12,298

30,371 4,129 3,838 7,853
10,698

1,589 5.0 387 8.6 270 6.6 250 3.1
1,600 13.0

32,032 30,627 1,405 4.4

4,436 3,998

438 9.9

3,978 3,762

216 5.4

7,919 7,676

243 3.1

11,553 10,918

635 5.5

33,096 32,108 988 3.0 30,891 29,661 1,230 4.0 14,735 14,077 658 4.5
2,772 2,448 324 11.7 9,235 8,830 405 4.4

33,054 31,004 14,691
2,718 9,177

31,952 29,566 14,021
2,438 8,795

1,102 3.3 1,438 4.6
670 4.6 280 10.3 382 4.2

32,912 31,020 1,892 5.7

30,650 29,715

935 3.1

14,872 14,056

816 5.5

2,680 2,367

313 11.7

9,198 8,686

512 5.6

10,920 10,474 446 4.1

1,079 1,026

53 4.9

1,664 1,509 155 9.3

9,228 8,862 366 4.0

46,405 44,762 1,643 3.5

10,885 1,065 1,623 9,163
46,334

10,430 1,017 1,499 8,812
44,631

455 4.2 48 4.5
124 7.6 351 3.8 1,703 3.7

11,296 10,780

516 4.6

1,091 1,041

50 4.6

1,872 1,686

186 9.9

9,129 8,836

293 3.2

46,623 44,658 1,965 4.2

3,127 2,967 160 5.1 4,801 4,367 434 9.0 4,569 4,332 237 5.2 9,499 9,007 492 5.2

3,110 4,757 4,525 9,474

2,946 4,362 4,321 8,944

164 5.3 395 8.3 204 4.5 530 5.6

3,174 5,010 4,619 9,161

3,031 4,494 4,415 8,585

143 4.5 516 10.3 204 4.4 576 6.3

17

New Developments

CallTech Communications, LLC plans to establish its
newest call center in a 21,000-square-foot facility that was part of the former Wal-Mart building at 2707 Dawson Road in Albany. Based in Columbus, Ohio, CallTech is an incoming call center that provides customer service, sales and technical support by responding to calls, e-mails and instant messages. Employees at the new facility will receive in-house training, as well as training through the state's QuickStart program at Albany Technical College. One of the first customers at CallTech's Albany location will be BellSouth, where CallTech employees will assist BellSouth's DSL customers with their high-speed Internet service. The company's other clients include Abercrombie & Fitch, WorldCom, Iomega, Universal Studios Florida and Priceline.com. CallTech will also provide such services as membership sign-up and enrollment for various associations and services, third-part verification for the telephone and utility services, cancellation "rescue" services attempting to retain customers, real time customer service-technical support instant messaging (chat), bulk fax and e-mail. With four other call centers, the Albany location will be the fifth for the company. CallTech has two centers in Columbus, Ohio, one in Brownsville, PA, and one in Fort Myers, FL. Recruiting for the 166 new jobs recently began. The company hopes to begin training its new staffers by May 1 and begin operations on June 1, giving a much-needed economic lift to Dougherty County.
The Ritz-Carlton recently opened its new luxury lodge
at Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee in Greensboro. Located 75 miles east of Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, the low-rise design of the facility offers guests three accommodation buildings, a Main House, a Conference Pavilion and a Spa and Fitness Center. The new $125 million complex is the only lodge in the group of 41 RitzCarlton properties in 13 countries. Starting price on the 250-room lodge is $275 a night and the four-bedroom Presidential House will go for $6,000 a night. The lodge has a 26,000-square-foot spa and offers more than 16,000 square feet of conference and ballroom space, located in the Conference Pavilion. Other amenities include a lakeside Southern BBQ pit for outdoor functions and a Wedding Pavilion overlooking Lake Oconee for weddings and other social functions. Extensive on-site activities include 81holes of championship golf, with the resort's own Golf Academy, Antebellum Trail tours, a nearby equestrian center and clay shooting and numerous walking, hiking and biking trails. The Ritz-Carlton Lodge sits along the banks of Lake Oconee on 35 acres amidst the 7,000 acres of Reynolds Plantation. About 90 percent of the lodge's 400 employees come from nearby counties. Located in an area where the county's major private employer, Union Point, shut down last year, officials hope the new project will transform the local economy in Greene County.

Beall's Outlet recently signed a lease for its newest
store at the Telfair Plaza in Helena. With home offices in Bradenton, FL, Beall's Outlet is an 87-year-old company privately-owned by the Beall family and its shareholders. Beall's stores offer a wide variety of name brand apparel and footwear for men, women and children, as well as gifts and housewares for the whole family. Merchandise assortments include vendor closeouts, private label import and domestic buys and off-price lines. Beall's, Inc. is the parent company of Beall's Department Stores, Inc., Beall's Outlet Stores, Inc., Burke's Outlet Stores, Inc. and MyGiftCottage.com, Inc. The corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates more than 375 retail stores across the country with annual sales exceeding one-half billion dollars. The new store will be the 24th location in Georgia and is scheduled to open in May with eight to ten employees in Telfair County.
Fred's Inc. recently announced plans to build a new
distribution center on Ga. 257 in Dublin. Fred's is a growing general merchandise chain that offers low-cost merchandise similar to Family Dollar and Dollar General stores. It has been in business for more than 50 years. The company credits its decision to locate in Dublin to the town's location relative to stores, labor force, easy access to the interstate and the overall pro-business attitude of the state. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, Fred's operates 385 stores and 206 pharmacies in 13 states throughout the Southeast. The new 600,000-square-foot distribution center will serve 125 stores in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. Construction recently began on the new $25 million facility, located on 136 acres. Plans allow for future expansion to 1 million square feet. Startup is scheduled for March 2003 and is expected to bring 150 to 250 jobs to Laurens County.
H.H. Gregg Appliances & Electronics recently an-
nounced plans to enter the metro Atlanta market next year, creating 600 new jobs. H.H. Gregg, a leading retailer of home appliances and consumer electronics, affirmed a site near Stonecrest Mall in Lithonia as one of several planned superstores. Although the company has plans for other locations, those sites have not been confirmed. Headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, H.H. Gregg is a family-run business that operates 45 stores in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. The retailer offers brand-name electronics and appliances, from the smallest digital camcorder to the largest side-by-side refrigerator. H.H. Gregg places emphasis on customer care and satisfaction by offering fast and reliable delivery, low prices and in-stock product guarantees, certified product repair service and knowledgeable sales people. At a time when competition is high among other appliance sellers, H.H. Gregg anticipates making a significant impact in the Atlanta metro area when it opens in the spring 2003.

18

Georgia Unemployment Rates by County

March 2002

Dade Catoosa

Whitfield

Walker

Murray

Chattooga

Gordon

Floyd

Bartow

Fannin

Towns

Union

Rabun

Gilmer Pickens Cherokee

White Haber-

Lumpkin

sham Stephens

Dawson Forsyth

Hall Banks Franklin Jackson Madison

Hart Elbert

10% or greater 4.6% to 9.9% Less than 4.6%

Polk Haralson

Cobb Paulding
Douglas

Gwinnett Barrow Clarke

Oconee Oglethorpe

DeKalb

Walton

Rock-

Wilkes

Lincoln

Carroll

Fulton Clayton

dale Newton

Morgan Greene Taliaferro

Columbia

Heard

Fayette Henry

Coweta

Spalding Butts Jasper

Putnam

Hancock

McDuffie Warren
Glascock

Richmond

Troup Meriwether Pike Lamar Monroe Jones Baldwin

Jefferson Washington

Burke

Upson

Harris

Talbot

Bibb

Wilkinson

Crawford

Twiggs

Johnson

Jenkins Emanuel

Screven

Muscogee

Taylor

Peach

Marion Chattahoo-

Macon

Houston Bleckley

Laurens

Treutlen

Candler Bulloch Effingham

chee

Schley Stewart Webster Sumter

Pulaski Dodge Dooly
Wilcox

Montgomery Wheeler Toombs

Evans

Tattnall

Bryan Chatham

Crisp

Telfair

Quitman

Randolph Terrell

Lee

Turner

Ben Hill

Jeff Davis Appling

Liberty Long

Clay Calhoun Dougherty

Early Miller

Baker Mitchell

Worth Colquitt

Irwin Tift

Coffee

Berrien Atkinson

Cook

Lanier

Seminole Decatur

Grady Thomas Brooks

Lowndes

Clinch

Echols

Bacon

Wayne

Pierce

Ware

Brantley

McIntosh Glynn

Charlton

Camden

Georgia's Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
19

Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County

County

March Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration

County

March Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration

Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham Chattahoochee Chattooga Cherokee Clarke Clay Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols Effingham Elbert Emanuel

138 ..... $180 .... 12.7 87 ..... $181 .... 10.2 54 ..... $190 .... 10.7 10 ..... $159 .... 13.4
140 ..... $171 .... 13.0 62 ..... $201 ...... 9.1
276 ..... $212 .... 12.8 424 ..... $226 .... 11.0 125 ..... $182 ...... 9.5
75 ..... $177 .... 10.0 511 ..... $175 .... 12.0 107 ..... $170 ...... 7.9
75 ..... $199 .... 14.2 56 ..... $161 .... 11.3 43 ..... $201 .... 12.1 189 ..... $181 .... 11.4 138 ..... $175 .... 10.3 173 ..... $212 .... 11.2 25 ..... $171 ...... 9.6 65 ..... $193 .... 13.2 38 ..... $178 ...... 9.9 573 ..... $206 .... 12.8 121 ...... $211 ...... 8.4 17 ..... $187 .... 16.0 579 ..... $184 .... 12.8 13 ..... $145 .... 15.5 77 ..... $208 .... 21.6 554 ..... $241 .... 11.5 269 ..... $185 .... 14.1
9 ..... $190 ...... 8.6 1116 ..... $222 .... 13.2
15 ..... $174 .... 13.3 2111 ..... $242 .... 14.3 226 ..... $199 .... 10.4 240 ..... $173 ...... 8.6 170 ..... $224 .... 10.5
51 ..... $183 ...... 8.8 372 ..... $219 .... 10.7
49 ..... $196 .... 10.2 117 ..... $154 .... 12.5 129 ..... $166 ...... 5.4
58 ..... $225 .... 10.6 92 ..... $184 .... 11.9 2794 ..... $230 .... 13.7 89 ..... $168 .... 10.4 100 ..... $157 .... 12.3 379 ..... $164 .... 13.9 313 ..... $231 .... 12.9 57 ..... $167 .... 11.8
8 ..... $201 .... 15.0 59 ..... $221 .... 12.5 128 ..... $177 ...... 8.1 65 ..... $177 .... 11.2

Evans Fannin Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady Greene Gwinnett Habersham Hall Hancock Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie McIntosh Macon Madison Marion Meriwether Miller Mitchell Monroe Morgan Montgomery Murray Muscogee

25 ..... $146 .... 10.0 154 ..... $198 ...... 9.9 181 ..... $239 .... 12.2 652 ...... $211 .... 10.1 257 ..... $247 .... 12.9 137 ..... $193 .... 10.5 3223 ..... $227 .... 14.1 163 ..... $219 ...... 8.4
9 ..... $207 .... 12.1 130 ..... $194 .... 13.3 335 ..... $203 ...... 9.6
80 ..... $161 .... 13.7 117 ..... $189 .... 16.1 1987 ..... $242 .... 13.0 154 ..... $196 ...... 8.4 893 ..... $218 ...... 9.4 71 ..... $151 .... 14.1 183 ..... $202 .... 11.5 84 ..... $216 ...... 9.7 133 ..... $181 .... 10.9 89 ..... $204 ...... 9.4 391 ..... $229 .... 13.1 260 ..... $191 .... 10.9 81 ..... $199 .... 11.2 157 ..... $214 .... 12.6 49 ..... $199 ...... 8.9 171 ..... $202 .... 11.8 104 ..... $185 .... 13.6 163 ..... $172 ...... 7.0 89 ..... $147 .... 10.0 60 ..... $206 ...... 9.0 259 ..... $198 ...... 9.7 22 ..... $171 ...... 9.5 330 ..... $178 ...... 8.5 54 ..... $210 ...... 8.1 96 ..... $190 .... 13.3 30 ..... $183 .... 14.2 17 ..... $179 .... 14.6 324 ..... $172 .... 11.5 72 ..... $213 ...... 9.4 222 ..... $199 .... 11.6 24 ..... $191 .... 15.1 311 ..... $182 ...... 8.5 121 ..... $204 .... 12.2 18 ..... $193 ...... 5.7 177 ..... $188 .... 10.3 12 ..... $181 ...... 8.0 114 ..... $157 .... 13.4 121 ..... $203 .... 10.2 50 ..... $175 .... 11.5 105 ..... $188 .... 10.0 305 ..... $209 ...... 6.8 532 ..... $188 .... 11.3

Initial claims include intrastate initial and additional claims, as well as agent state initial and additional claims for regular UI only. Average duration of benefits is represented in weeks.
20

County

March Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration

Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth

252 ..... $215 .... 11.3 58 ..... $213 .... 11.2 38 ..... $205 .... 12.5
350 ..... $236 .... 12.8 88 ..... $178 ...... 9.9
103 ..... $227 ...... 9.9 67 ..... $188 .... 12.9
157 ..... $207 ...... 9.8 264 ..... $205 ...... 9.7
48 ..... $145 .... 12.9 88 ..... $165 .... 10.7
3 ..... $256 .... 13.8 34 ..... $201 ...... 8.9 65 ..... $161 ...... 7.9 719 ..... $180 .... 11.2 199 ..... $230 .... 12.4 22 ..... $171 ...... 8.2 81 ..... $180 ...... 8.9 31 ..... $179 .... 11.2 752 ..... $197 .... 10.3 245 ..... $200 ...... 9.1 17 ..... $157 ...... 6.2 139 ..... $170 .... 12.5 41 ..... $176 .... 11.3 16 ..... $191 .... 11.5 48 ..... $177 ...... 9.7 31 ..... $183 .... 11.4 82 ..... $185 .... 15.8 62 ..... $158 .... 10.3 198 ..... $167 .... 11.0 266 ..... $173 .... 10.5 148 ..... $186 .... 11.5 35 ..... $200 ...... 9.6 51 ..... $198 .... 10.4 551 ..... $206 ...... 8.5 171 ..... $129 ...... 8.5 77 ..... $181 .... 11.0 73 ..... $184 .... 10.3 254 ..... $186 .... 16.2 218 ..... $195 ...... 7.4 251 ..... $206 .... 10.2 161 ..... $161 .... 12.8 59 ..... $189 .... 11.9 115 ..... $170 .... 11.7 97 ..... $198 .... 11.7 10 ..... $177 ...... 7.2 26 ..... $190 .... 13.8 87 ..... $201 ...... 9.3 583 ..... $210 ...... 6.5 45 ..... $171 ...... 8.3 63 ..... $183 .... 19.2 43 ..... $200 .... 12.3 141 ..... $169 .... 11.8

Unemployment Insurance Statistics

Weeks 12.0
11.5
11.0

Average duration of benefits
Last 12 months
11.4 1 1 .1 10.7

10.5

1 0 .2

10.0

9.7 9.8

9.5

9.2 9.4

9.0

8.7 8.9

8.5 8.5

8.5

8.0

7.5

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

01

02

Unemployment insurance initial claims

Thousands 100

2001 -- 2002

90

2002

2001

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Initial claims totals down from February to March...

Unemployment insurance initial claims were down 11.9 percent from February to March, dropping from 42,764 to 37,659. March's total represents the first time since October 2000 that new claims figures fell below the 40,000 plateau. For the year, new claims decreased 4,112 from the March 2001 figure of 41,771, a dip of 9.8 percent.
All metropolitan areas, with the exception of Albany where initial claims were up 5.6 percent, experienced over-the-month declines in new claims filings. The Atlanta metro area saw new claims figures fall 12.8 percent, from 19,759 in February to 17,231 during March. Though the Atlanta area experienced an over-the-month drop, initial claims were up 23.4 percent over the year.
For the month, continued claims were down, falling from 325,477 in February to 313,155 in March, a decline of 3.8 percent. However, continued claims have increased 118,845 from last March, a rise of 61.2 percent. Continued weeks claimed are the counts of weeks of unemployment for which claimants certify they were unemployed after having been deemed eligible for benefits.
Statistical trends regarding the total number of beneficiaries drawing unemployment benefits and the total amount of benefits paid were similar to continued weeks claimed data.

During March, 83,287 beneficiaries drew $62,704,041 in benefit payments. Both figures were down when compared to February numbers, beneficiaries falling 10 percent and benefits paid dropping 5.5 percent. The total number of beneficiaries increased 33.4 percent and benefits paid grew 66.6 percent over the year.
For the month, there were $11.3 million in benefit payments in the services industry ($7 million in business services), $7.3 million in manufacturing ($1.8 million in textiles), $6.4 million in trade (retail and wholesale combined) and $3.7 million in construction.
The average duration of benefits climbed once again, up from 11.1 weeks in February to 11.4 weeks in March, the highest the average duration has been in nine years (the duration stood at 11.7 weeks during February 1993). Since last March, the average duration has risen 34.1 percent.
The number of benefit exhaustions rose slightly from February to March, up 2.6 percent to a total of 8,557. Since March 2001, the number of laid off workers exhausting unemployment insurance benefits has escalated 134.6 percent.
While it's a positive sign that current initial and continued claims statistics are on a downward trend, the high over-the-year advance in both the average duration of benefits and benefit exhaustions show that many separated workers are still having a difficult time finding employment opportunities.

Statistical Trends

March 2002

March 2001

Net Change

Percent Change

Initial Claims ............................................................ 37,659 ................................ 41,771 ................................... -4,112 ................................ -9.8%

Continued Weeks Claimed .................................... 313,155 .............................. 194,310 ................................ 118,845 ............................... 61.2%

Beneficiaries ............................................................ 83,287 ................................ 62,432 .................................. 20,855 ............................... 33.4%

Benefits Paid .................................................. $62,704,041 ....................... $37,643,200 ......................... $25,060,841 ............................... 66.6%

Weeks Paid ........................................................... 267,944 .............................. 173,178 .................................. 94,766 ............................... 54.7%

First Payments ........................................................ 16,721 ................................ 16,615 ....................................... 106 ................................. 0.6%

Final Payments .......................................................... 8,557 .................................. 3,648 .................................... 4,909 ............................. 134.6%

Average Weekly Benefit ........................................ $234.02 .............................. $217.37 .................................. $16.65 ................................. 7.7%

Average Duration (weeks) ........................................... 11.4 ...................................... 8.5 ........................................ 2.9 ............................... 34.1%

Trust Fund Balance ................................... $1,597,291,129 .................. $1,809,788,086 ...................... -$212,496,957 .............................. -11.7%

21

GEORGIA

Economic Indicators

A Monthly Report of Georgia State Labor Market and Economic Trends

March 2002

Volume 8, Issue 1

Georgia Department of Labor
Michael L. Thurmond Commissioner

Manufacturing Employment

607

2000-2001

2001-2002

593

580

566

553

539

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

New Motor Vehicle Sales

63

2000-2001

2001-2002

56

49

42

35

28

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

Georgia Economic Indicators
Monthly updates of: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) Georgia's Index of Economic Indicators
- Leading Index - Coincident Index Seasonally Adjusted Economic Indicators - Nonagricultural Employment - Retail Employment - Manufacturing Employment - Manufacturing Workweek - Weekly Manufacturing Earnings - Deflated Manufacturing Earnings - Nonagricultural Job Openings Unfilled - Initial Unemployment Claims - Continued Unemployment Claims - Unemployment Rate - Insured Unemployment Rate - New Motor Vehicle Sales - Residential Construction (building permits) - Nonresidential Construction (dollar value) - Deflated Nonresidential Construction - New Business Corporations - Total State Revenues - Deflated Total State Revenues
Available in printed format or online at
www.dol.state.ga.us/lmi

To subscribe to this publication at no charge, please complete and mail this form

Mail to:

If you prefer, you may e-mail your request to bill.webb@dol.state.ga.us
Bill Webb Workforce Information and Analysis Georgia Department of Labor 148 Andrew Young International Boulevard N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751

chNaorge

Please send the most recent copy of Georgia Economic Indicators to:

Name Company / Agency Address City

State

Zip Code

22

WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team
We are proud to serve you. Please contact any team member should you need assistance regarding any of our products or publications.

Employment
Jan Mayo or Lili Stern: Current Employment by industry for State and MSAs, hours and earnings
Cheryl Totton or Ann Hunter: Employment and Wages for State, MSAs and counties

Occupational & Career Information
Ridley Hubbard: Occupational employment, forecasts and wages
Elaine Hayes: Occupational Employment Survey
Electronic Delivery
Kenneth King: QuickStats! Corey Smith: QuickSource! Winston Connally: User Applications

Other Workforce Information Areas
Faye Duzan: The Workforce Investment Act and LMI, & training needs
Bill Webb: Economic Indicators for State and Atlanta MSA
Nancy Murphy: General Information on the Workforce Information and Analysis Division

The WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team: Committed To Total Customer Satisfaction Through Outstanding Customer Service

Workforce.Info@dol.state.ga.us (404) 656-3177



Upcoming Events
Press Release Dates
April
Unemployment Insurance Claims ................. May 9
Georgia Unemployment Rate/ Non-farmEmployment ......... May 15
Civilian Labor Force/Area Unemployment Rates ......... May 22
May
Unemployment Insurance Claims............... June 13
Georgia Unemployment Rate/ Non-farm Employment ....... June 20
Civilian Labor Force/Area Unemployment Rates ........ June 27

Let us hear from you!
Moved (Please provide the correct mailing address below.) Please remove my name from your mailing list. I'm interested in other types of information (please explain).
Name: ____________________________________________________
New Address: ______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
Comments/Suggestions/Requests: ______________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
Please return this form to: Customer Satisfaction Team, 223 Courtland Street, NE, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30303; or fax info to (404) 651-9568; or email info to Workforce.Info@dol.state.ga.us 23

Georgia Department of Labor Workforce Information & Analysis 148 Andrew Young International Boulevard, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751
Return Service Requested